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Vasan quits Cong after 14 years, to float new party in Tamil Nadu

Name of the new party to be announced at a rally in Tiruchi

Vasan quits Cong after 14 years, to float new party in Tamil Nadu

In a major blow to the Congress in Tamil Nadu, senior leader GK Vasan on Monday quit the party and announced his decision to float a new outfit to bring back the ?Kamaraj rule? in the state.

Criticising those entrusted with the affairs of Congress in Tamil Nadu, Vasan said at a press conference here that the approach of AICC in the state was not satisfactory in achieving its goal which prompted him and his supporters to resign from the party.

?To achieve the goal in Tamil Nadu, there should be a different direction. We are having a new path, we feel it will be a victory path,? the former Union minister said.

?We are starting a new party. The name of the new party and its symbol would be announced at a rally to be held in Tiruchi shortly,? he said.

Vasan announced that he would bring back the ‘Kamaraj rule’ in Tamil Nadu. Former Tamil Nadu unit Congress president BS Gnanadesikan, who resigned the party post last week, was also present with Vasan.

The decision by Vasan to split from Congress brings an end to his 14-year-long association with the party following the merger of Tamil Manila Congress floated by his father GK Moopanar.

Vasan’s move has a parallel to what his father Moopanar did some 17 years ago. Unhappy over the Congress decision to forge an electoral truck with AIADMK, Moopanar, a veteran and influential leader of Congress, came out of the party and floated the Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) in 1996. However, after his death, TMC merged with Congress in 2002.

Meanwhile, responding to Vasan’s decision, Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar announced his expulsion from the party. Kumar said the party took the decision on the basis of inappropriate comments he (Vasan) made about it and the leadership.

Vasan’s decision to quit Congress comes a day after newly-appointed state unit president E V K S Elangovan took charge.

Vasan, however, did not refer to Mukul Wasnik, in-charge of Tamil Nadu, and former Union minister P Chidambaram, with whom he had differences on party affairs.

?We want to lead, be the number one regional party and an alternative political party to Tamil Nadu people and we feel we can fulfil the vision of late Kamaraj. We are going in the right direction,? he said, highlighting the principles of the new

party.

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First published on: 04-11-2014 at 04:10 IST
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